MARKET REPORT Diversity
Diversity – Why it matters
Does Diversity matter? In
short, yes. e research
shows that diverse
companies perform better
but what exactly does diversity
in the workplace mean?
Diversity in the workplace
means that a company
employs a wide range of
diverse individuals. In other
words, a diverse workforce
includes people with di erent
characteristics.
Diversity means that a
company’s workforce includes
people of varying gender, age,
religion, race, ethnicity, cultural
background, sexual orientation,
religion, languages, education,
abilities, etc.
In this era of economic
globalisation, many companies
are making e orts to achieve
workforce diversity, which aims
to employ workers from di erent
backgrounds. Diversity can
provide tangible and intangible
bene ts to the organisation, for
example, employing workers
with cultural and language skills
can lead to greater reach for
the business. Diversity experts
believe that varied groups can
contribute more creative ideas to
the mix and give your business a
competitive edge.
Increase in Creativity
Workforce diversity increases
creativity within a company
because varied groups are crossfertilising
one another within the
organisation. Employees from
di erent backgrounds bring in
a variety of solutions on how to
achieve a common goal. As more
diverse ideas are suggested, the
chances of nding a workable
answer are improved.
In atmospheres when
brainstorming is necessary,
more ideas are formed because
team members are culturally
diverse. For example, employees
from EU countries working in
It is no secret that the Channel has a diversity problem. But does it really matter?
As the UK is one of the most ethnically diverse countries on the planet it could be
argued this is one of the UK plc’s greatest strengths and opportunitys. What does
the channel think?
UK companies may approach a
problem totally di erently than
UK-born workers.
But what does the channel
really think?
Why does diversity matter to
you?
Rohita Kopf at Sky Business
Communications, says “We
believe a diverse and inclusive
organisation is a fair and strong
organisation. Because mixed
teams who value each other’s
life experiences have fewer blind
spots than a team who share a
lot of similarities.
We celebrate diversity,
because di erent people, with
di erent perspectives makes Sky
a great place to work, creates
a better business, and most
importantly, because it is the
right thing to do.
Achieving a better gender
and ethnic balance is important
to us, so we’re investing in
programmes to help us get there
and to support our employees be
themselves at work.
is has recently been
recognised with Sky being
ranked in the prestigious
Inclusive Top 50 Employers
List, which was unveiled at the
Inclusive Companies Awards last
month.
Hundreds of companies were
judged for their approach to
promoting diversity, equality and
inclusion across all levels within
their organisation, with Sky
recognised for the commitments
our people, in every team, in
every part of our business, have
made to make our company a
great place for everyone.
Iain Sinnott, Head of Sales
at VanillaIP, says that as a
London based business, they just
naturally expect their workforce
to re ect the general population.
“We are simply keen to recruit
the best candidates for the job
and know that whoever we hire
will be welcomed into the team.
If our education environments
can be encouraged to open all
students minds to all careers,
employers like us are simply
waiting for keen, energetic and
committed people to come
along.”
Esther Park, Group HR
Manager at Nimans, says that
for her diversity is all about the
future.
“ at’s how you generate new
ideas, innovation and a di erent
perspective on how to do things.
If you are in a business that’s
operating the way it’s always
36 | Comms Business Magazine | January 2020 www.commsbusiness.co.uk
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